Earth Day 2022 - live: Global protests staged as WHO says keep fossil fuels in ground
Follow live as Earth Day 2022 is celebrated across the globe
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Your support makes all the difference.Global protests are taking place to mark Earth Day, a global event to celebrate and mobilise in support of protecting the environment.
This has included a blockade by Extinction Rebellion members at a printing works for major US newspapers - including The New York Times and Wall Street Journal - in a protest against media climate coverage. The group said 15 activists were arrested.
Other rallies are taking place across the US and the world, including planned demonstrations against Russian fossil fuels in Europe.
Many other events are being held across the globe to celebrate the 52nd annual event for the environment, including talks, film screenings and local litter picking events.
Earth Day 2022 has a theme of “Invest in our Planet” with a focus on encouraging individuals, businesses and world leaders to invest and switch to greener technologies and practices.
The World Health Organisation called for fossil fuels to “stay in the ground” to prevent air pollution as it tweeted about the annual day for the environment.
What can you do to help the climate movement? A youth activist explains
Scarlett Westbrook, a youth climate activist, has written for The Independent this Earth Day.
If you’re wondering what you can do to help the environmental movement and what it is in the works, this is the piece for you.
Have a read here:
Opinion: For young activists like me, Earth Day means not giving up hope
We still have time to stop the climate crisis – the resources and technology already exist
Images from XR protest at US newspaper printing plant
Heading back to the US, here are some pictures from the Extinction Rebellion blockade at the US newspaper printing facility:
Seminal moments in the climate movement over the past 52 years
Today marks the 52nd time Earth Day has been celebrated across the globe.
Many key moments in the environmental movement have happened in this time, including historic agreements and waves of people joining the campaign against the climate crisis.
Myself and Louise Boyle, our senior climate correspondent in New York, have taken a look at them for Earth Day:
Earth Day: Looking back at the seminal climate moments over the last 52 years
From student 'teach-ins' in the Seventies, the movement now involves up to a billion people around the world demanding environmental action
XR ‘blocks printing plants’ for US newspapers
Over in the US, Extinction Rebellion have brought in Earth Day 2022 with protests.
The group says it has disrupted the printing plants for major newspapers in protest against climate coverage:
South Korea activists protest with plastic waste
But before this kicks off in Europe, let’s go to the other side of the world where protests have already been happening.
This Earth Day, environmental activists in Seoul in South Korea have lay down on the floor with plastic bags over their heads in a demonstration against the climate crisis.
Climate activists to protest against Russian fossil fuels
Climate activists are set to protest outside Germany government and embassy buildings across Europe on Earth Day 2022 as they call for stronger action against Russian fossil fuels.
Activists in Berlin, Warsaw, Brussels and elsewhere are expected to hand out red-stained roubles to symbolize blood covering a currency they say is fuelling both climate change and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Germany is one of the EU countries opposed to an embargo on Russian oil and gas for fear of damage to their economies.
Watch this space for pictures and details of the protests later today.
What is Earth Day?
Before Earth Day 2022 properly kicks off, let’s quickly remind ourselves of what the yearly event is.
In short, it is a day that every year offers people around the world a chance to focus on the planet and the challenges facing it.
Ethan Freedman, our climate reporter in New York, explains in full:
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